Ben M NDE

Experience Description

I was having an angiogram. This was my twelfth one so I was not nervous or concerned at all as far as the procedure was concerned. I was laying down on the procedure table flat on my back. There were I believe about five medical personnel and the doctor around me. The room was bright and there was a lot of medical equipment hanging above including an x-ray head that was mobile on an arm and a bank of monitors. The doctor had already made an incision in my groin, inserted a cable/catheter into my veins, and had snaked it up and into my heart. I was awake and watching the monitor waiting for him to shoot the dye in that would show the blood flowing through my arteries when I found myself standing up and feeling strong and normal with no drugs or weakness from my bad heart.

All around me was light that cannot be described properly with words. It was good and warm but not like heat. It was thick and textured but not like fog or smoke. I started to understand and my mind was clearing when I began to move forward toward what seemed to be an outline of something ahead very hard to describe; not really clear. Then I found myself back lying down with a male nurse slapping my cheek and asking me if I was okay. He then asked, 'Did you see anything?' I was overwhelmed with the experience and answered with, 'I just had a dream.'

I was down for many minutes and they had to use a crash cart and shock my heart back. I know I was gone and I know that as simple as this seems it was a profound event for me. The feeling that was in the light and the nature of it is, well, very hard to describe, and I was so awake, strong, and alive. Also it lasted for a long time it seemed to me and again as simple as it sounds each moment was rich with experience and feeling but feeling is not the right word.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: Sept. 2008

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related Heart stopped during an angiogram requiring a crash cart to revive Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) I have a bad heart, was having an angiogram, and my heart stopped during the procedure.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I lost awareness of my body

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? More consciousness and alertness than normal As above.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Most of the time only in the first few moments was there any confusion.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning Time was different not linear.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Even though I could not see anything but the light around me and the outline of symmetrical shapes ahead. I sensed I could see forever, in a way it was the light that blocked seeing more.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. There were no sounds but I know I could hear great.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, and the facts have been checked out

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Uncertain

Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

The experience included: Light

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes Described above.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm I was someplace very special but not my time

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Concern, excitement, peace, strength, love, warmth.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt united or one with the world

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control

Did scenes from the future come to you? Scenes from the world's future

The experience included: Boundary

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes There was something ahead, something amazing.

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate Mormon

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I feel a compelling need to be a part of life.

What is your religion now? Moderate Mormon

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I feel a compelling need to be a part of life.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? I actually saw them

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Uncertain

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Uncertain

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes The light that surrounded me was somehow real or a texture or alive but not exactly difficult to describe.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain A greater ability to cope with a very difficult situation.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? It was for me and not for everyone, it was just enough to help me manage my life better and what I seemed to need. Most of the good of this experience is coming only after several years have passed. I questioned the existence of an afterlife prior to this event only now do I believe we live on after death it was real.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real So profound it was hard to speak about.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No